May 18, 2013
WHITE PINE, Tenn. (WVLT) -- Authorities believe the man killed in a weekend fire at a White Pine hotel may have been a resident there.
Jefferson Co. Sheriff G.W. "Bud" McCoig said Eddy White lived there, but has not been accounted for yet. The victim's body was taken to the UT Forensic Lab for an autopsy.
Officials are still trying to determine the cause of the fire at the Crown Inn, on Phillips Rd. late Saturday afternoon. The Tennessee Bureau of Investigation has joined in the investigation.
Neighbors and Eddy's brother, Bob, said they believe foul play was involved. But all say, he was a nice guy.
"He was a real good neighbor. Never had no problems out of him. He would come out in the morning and sweep the parking lot just cause he wanted to. And I'd sit and talk to him sometimes.He'd always come out there when I was leaving for work and say, 'hey,'" said neighbor Shane Schultz.
The American Red Cross opened a shelter at White Pine Elementary School, 3060 Roy Messer Hwy., for anyone affected by the fire. Six families were given temporary shelter at a hotel, but the Red Cross said when it learned the Crown Inn still didn't have power, it decided to open a shelter.
